AUSTRALIA

The Australian wine industry is the world's fourth largest exporter of wine with approximately 750 million litres a year to the international export market with only about 40% of production consumed domestically. Wine is produced in every state, with more than 60 designated wine regions totaling approximately 160,000 hectares; however Australia's wine regions are mainly in the southern, cooler parts of the country, with vineyards located in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. The wine regions in each of these states produce different wine varieties and styles that take advantage of the particular terroir such as: climatic differences, topography and soil types. With the major varieties being predominantly Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillon, Pinot noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Wines are often labeled with the name of their grape variety, which must constitute at least 85 percent of the wine.

JAMES SUCKLING 95 POINTS - "Love the aromas of fresh mushrooms, flowers and currants. Pops out of the glass. Full body, very tight in the center palate but that takes off at the finish. Tangy and vivid acidity gives focus and life to this wine. What a wine. Screw cap. Drink or hold."

WINE ENTHUSIAST 94 POINTS - "Although it's full-bodied and lush, it's by no means the world's biggest or ripest Cabernet blend. Instead, it's impeccably balanced and gentle, serving up cassis, vanilla and a touch of baking spices in generous swirls that reach a crescendo on the long finish. Drink now–2030."

WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "The 2012 Heytesbury was the first vintage winemaker Virginia Willcock used only indigenous yeasts for the ferment, which she says has added "life" to the wine. The blend...is indeed lively, showing vibrant notes of cassis framed by hints of menthol, vanilla and tight tannins. It's medium to full in body yet avoids any sense of jamminess or excessive weight, finishing long and fine."

Heytesbury is a blend of the best barrels from the best batches of old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon and small parcels of Petit Verdot and Malbec. The Margaret River Wine Region is positioned on a cape that is surrounded by ocean on three sides in the south-west corner of Australia. Unique to the Margaret River region is a system ofnatural sea breezes and currents that help regulate the variance between seasonal temperatures, reducing extreme cold and heat within the vineyards. These cooling breezes steady the ripening process for the development of physiologically balanced grapes with concentrated fruit flavors. Heytesbury shows incredible elegance and finesse with silky smooth tannins.

Deep purple fading to a ruby rim. On the nose, the wine is very aromatic with violet florals leading the way. Currants, black cherry, cedar, sassafras root, eucalyptol and exotic spices tantalize. On the palate, the wine is dry and full-bodied, yet well-balanced with fine matured tannins. The flavors mirror the aromatics with crème de cassis, black cherry and blackberries leading the way. Savory spices and a hint of vanillin culminate in a seamless, lingering finish. This wine shows incredible balance, complexity, intensity and length. Well done!